BARCELONA: In a significant diplomatic meeting held in Barcelona, top Palestinian diplomat Riad Al-Maliki appealed for an immediate end to Israel’s retaliatory attacks on the Gaza Strip.
Al-Maliki stressed the urgent need for international pressure to prevent further civilian casualties and emphasized the potential for increased fatalities if hostilities resume. The meeting, chaired by the EU’s foreign policy chief Josep Borrell and Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi, aimed to address the escalating Israel-Hamas conflict and its potential destabilizing impact on the region.
Despite the absence of Israel at the gathering hosted by the Union for the Mediterranean, Al-Maliki warned of the conflict’s devastating toll, with over 14,000 lives lost, predominantly Palestinians. Borrell expressed regret over Israel’s non-participation, condemning the October 7 Hamas attack and calling on Israel to permanently cease its assault, particularly noting the tragic toll on children, with over 5,000 lives lost.
The meeting provided a platform for European diplomats to engage with northern African and Middle Eastern nations, offering insights into perspectives that strongly support the Palestinian cause. Safadi urged attendees to back a two-state solution recognizing a Palestinian state, acknowledging differing viewpoints on how forcefully to push Israel to stop its military actions.
While some nations, including the Czech Republic, Austria, Croatia, and Hungary, insisted on Israel’s right to defend itself, Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister, Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, cautioned against continued escalation. He highlighted the risk of further destruction, radicalization, and conflict, impacting not only Palestinian lives but also regional security, including that of Israel.
Borrell aimed to shift the focus toward managing the humanitarian crisis in Gaza once hostilities cease. The EU expressed a desire for the United Nations to play a leading role in addressing any potential security vacuum following a cessation of hostilities. A small pro-Palestinian group rallied before the meeting, emphasizing the ongoing urgency of resolving the protracted conflict.
